I talk to business owners all over Gainesville. Most have made the smart decision to be proactive and invest in their cybersecurity defenses. Many of them made the jump because their cybersecurity insurance asked them to. But a considerable portion of SMBs have no cybersecurity measures at all.
I get it. You haven’t been a target, right?
Are you ready to email all of your clients about a data breach? It’s embarrassing. There are many things you can do RIGHT NOW to step up your game:
1) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Imagine someone got your password on the dark web (very possible). They could just log in to any of your accounts and poof… that’s it. MFA adds a second step. After entering in your username/password, the login system will then either send you a code by email or text (or) generate a code through an authentication app.
2) Encryption
Imagine someone stole your laptop. Would there be anything on there that you wouldn’t want anyone else to see? Thieves could retrieve data from your computer, even by bypassing the computer login. BUT… if you turned on BitLocker (Windows Pro) or FileVault (Mac), then your entire computer is then encrypted to prevent unauthorized data retrieval.
3) Password Manager
Each password that you have should be different. That’s not optional. One easy way to do this is by having some form of a third-party password manager that isn’t Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. These password managers can generate a password quickly and even help when you are changing passwords.
4) Advanced Monitoring Tools
This is another great way to shield your business. It’s kind of like security cameras, but for your digital space, always on the lookout for suspicious activity. These tools aren’t perfect, but they help detect unusual activity in your systems.
5) Phishing Scam Awareness
Phishing scams are the primary reason that your business should have MFA enabled for everyone on your team. These scams are attempts for a criminal to pretend to be someone they are not, like a fake email or phone call that appears to be from a real business that you trust. Then tricking you into providing sensitive data (like your password), that the criminal can then use to try all over the internet.
Why is all of this Cyber Security stuff so important?
Because it protects your data
It avoids financial loss
And builds trust with your customers and partners
Regardless if you run your business out of your home or a large office… your business data is valuable. Safeguarding this data can prevent major headaches that you never even knew were possible.
These headaches could be costly, not just in time and money but also in the embarrassment of admitting to your clients that their sensitive data was breached because of something you could have easily patched up. Prevention is ALWAYS cheaper than dealing with the aftermath of a breach.
Investing in cybersecurity doesn’t have to be scary. We’re the experts in this field and I’d personally love to help you secure your business. Whether you need advice on getting started or want a comprehensive security plan, let us know!
